Success Stories

On this page, we are honoured to share personal stories from the clients, volunteers, donors and community partners who are #BuildingStrongFamilies with us.

MIKE BALOGH

“When I discovered Never Too Late, I was a recently-retired high school teacher looking for a meaningful connection to people facing obstacles in their lives. I did not want my retirement to be about putting energy into activities just to stay busy. I was searching for something that would apply my teaching skills to making . . . Continue Reading

May 13, 2019

VICKI: NEVER TOO LATE GRADUATE

“I never graduated, and I never went back to school once I’d left, because life happens. And later, how do you maneuver, trying to live and trying to pay, while trying to take care of kids and everything else? I just never did it. At a career centre, they gave me a card for Never . . . Continue Reading

April 25, 2019

MELISSA: NEVER TOO LATE GRADUATE

“I was 24 when a friend told me about the Never Too Late program – I never graduated, but always talked about it. I was just going from job to job – pointless jobs that weren’t going anywhere, where there was no advancement. I knew there was potential for more. I called right away.” Replacing . . . Continue Reading

April 25, 2019

MARK: NEVER TOO LATE GRADUATE

“I found out about Never Too Late by chance. My mom got the number off a poster and gave it to me. I didn’t have my GED. I wanted to get on to the next chapter of my life, so I made the call.” Family championing each other “I remember getting a little emotional when . . . Continue Reading

April 25, 2019

GILLIAN: NEVER TOO LATE GRADUATE

“Coming from Belize, I didn’t have the opportunity to finish school. Coming from a poor family, I was pulled out of school at a young age to start working. When I came to Canada, my previous work experience didn’t count for anything. I went into this depressed mode. I felt like a failure.” Right place . . . Continue Reading

April 25, 2019

ABDUWAHID: NEVER TOO LATE GRADUATE

“I’d been struggling to get my high school diploma for a long time. I come from Somalia, and I didn’t go to school back home. I’ve been in Canada 20 years, and I’ve tried to do upgrading, but couldn’t do it because of money and timing. I have a big family, and have to work, . . . Continue Reading

April 25, 2019

SARA SCOTT

“Being a single mother at 18 was very isolating and there is stigma attached to it. I didn’t fit into my old group of friends who were my age, nor did I fit into the group of moms I met at moms-and-tots groups because I was always the youngest mom by at least six or seven . . . Continue Reading

April 5, 2019

CLAUDE CYR

“I used to work for a company that dedicated a full day of revenues to charity. One of the employees’ favourite charities was the Louise Dean Centre. We even had the chance to hear a young mother tell her story. Her particular story touched me because my daughter is a single mother who never finished . . . Continue Reading

April 1, 2019

CAINE’S STORY

“I’m Caine, I’m 10 and I was in Crew this year. Lars is a University of Calgary basketball Dino – he’s my Crew mentor and he’s an awesome player and friend. He is way taller than me! More than two feet taller, because I’m 4’5” and Lars is 6’8”. One of the best things about Crew . . . Continue Reading

March 8, 2019

KAREN DOURIS

“In this photo, I am with my stepson’s counsellor Tricia on the right and her supervisor Sara on the left. My employer allows us to donate $500 each year to the charity of our choice and this year I picked Catholic Family Service. I wanted to give back to the organization that helped us so . . . Continue Reading

ABOUT CFS

We are committed to building strong families. Our programs and services respond to the challenges that threaten families and leave them vulnerable. We focus on enhancing the mental health and well-being of our clients, empowering parents, nurturing children’s healthy development and enabling success in school.